Where All Paths Collide I (歩みは全て激突へ I Ayumi wa Subete Gekitotsu e I ) is the 24th chapter of the Shakugan no Shana manga series.
Yūji didn't want to go with Shana to investigate the intruder in the city. He agreed to go shopping with Yoshida. Margery found the Crystal Altar, which would aid her in her search for Lamies.
Summary[]

Shana not knowing what she's feeling.
During a biology class, Shana was irritated because of Yūji not wanting to train anymore. She didn't understand why she was so angry, whether it was at his weakness, lack of sincerity, or something else. She wished a Denizen would come, so that Yūji would rediscover his will to fight, and she would feel better. She then sensed that a Denizen or Flame Haze was in the city.

Ogata worried about Tanaka and Satō.
During break time, as Shana was leaving the classroom, Ogata asked Ike about Tanaka and Satō, who were absent from school. She was worried, as the two hadn't skipped school since they had entered high school.

Shana shocked.
Yūji was walking down a hall when he was approached by Shana, who had brought his bag. Shana told him about the nearby Denizen or Flame Haze and that they would go and investigate, but got mad and yelled when he didn't seem to care, throwing his bag on the floor. She tried to reason with him that a Denizen might be eating people at that moment. Yūji recalled how he had been no use against the cat and said it wouldn't matter if he went with her or not. He was surprised when Shana was shocked by his words and ran away.
When Yūji returned to the classroom, Ike asked if he was with Shana. Though Yūji said no, Ike noticed that he had returned carrying his bag. Ike and Yoshida asked Yūji to help them pick a present for Yoshida's little brother's birthday with them, if he was free after school. Though he looked gloomy, Yūji said he was free and would join them.

The miniature city replica, Crystal Altar.
Margery, Satō and Tanaka were inside the Yoda Department Store, on the 8th floor. Though the explosion was meant to have been on the roof, Margery sensed something on the 8th floor and broke the door down. She told the boys to look for anything strange and used Marchosias' Grimoire to make a fireball for illumination. The whole floor was covered with toys and dolls. Satō spotted a pile in the darkness and Marchosias lit it up to find a large, miniature model of Misaki City. It was very solid and could be stood on. Margery floated over it using the Grimoire and recognized it as the Crystal Altar, which had last been possessed by Friagne. She theorized that Friagne was dead, as he had left behind something as rare as the Crystal Altar, and that the presence they had felt was a powerful Flame Haze. She thought they could use the altar to find Lamies. As Tanaka asked if it was really that useful, Margery planned to use it, asking Marchosias to activate it. Margery stepped on the Crystal Altar, activating it.
After school, Yūji planned to take Yoshida to the department store near the station. As they began walking Ike claimed to have something he needed to do and that Yūji and Yoshida should go by themselves. As Yūji said it wasn't like him to make a mistake, Ike said he was careless, but winked at Yoshida. As Ike left, an embarrassed Yoshida went with Yūji.
Characters[]
- Shana
- Kazumi Yoshida
- Hayato Ike
- Matake Ogata
- Yūji Sakai
- Margery Daw
- Eita Tanaka
- Keisaku Satō
- Marchosias
- Friagne (mentioned)
- Marianne (visualization only)
- Lamies (mentioned)
Powers and Abilities Used[]
Treasure Tools[]
Locations[]
Quotes[]
- Shana (thinking): "Yūji has lost his motivation. Why is that making me feel so bad? Is it because Yūji's so weak? Am I angry at his insincerity after talking big? It's my feelings but I don't understand them at all. ...If only a Denizen came... that's right. If there was a fight, Yūji should get motivated again, like before. Then this bad feeling would go away."
- Yūji (to Shana): "...It wouldn't matter to you if I'm there or not."
- Marchosias (about Friagne): "Hya, hahahaahaaaa! This city was the nest of that fetishist bastard!?"
- Margery: "Just finding this Crystal Altar made the investigation worth it. It will be helpful in me finding that shitty bastard Lamies and slaughtering him."
Trivia[]

Omake page after the chapter.
- At the end of this chapter, there is an omake page, the second of fifteen featuring Shana-tan and Nina.
- Thinking Yūji would become motivated if a Denizen appeared, Shana recalled how Yūji had warned her about Trigger Happy, in chapter 17.
- Yūji recalled being saved by Shana against Nina which was shown in the previous chapter. He also repeated the same statement he had said to himself, "It wouldn't matter to her/you whether I was there or not.", but this time directed at Shana.
Cultural References[]
- The biology teacher's nonsensical lecture is actually excerpts from a narration in the TV show Choukou Senshi Changéríon, explaining the transformation of the hero, The Blader. Shakugan no Shana author Yashichirō Takahashi often makes references to Changéríon.